Magazine for firearms



June 15, 19 43.. J. WHITTAKER 2,321,720

MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Filed May 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.Joy/v E WAUTTA/(E/Q June 15, 1943 J wHlTTAKER 2,321,720

MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Filed May 15, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 3

AL, Jomv E.VV///7(5Q BY 1 wea A fra /V5 K5 June 15, 1943. J. R.WHITTAKER 2,321,720

MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Filed May 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.Joy/v E. WH/ 7'74 5e 4 7' TOR/VEKS Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Application May 13, 1941, Serial No.393,166

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a firearm magazine and refers moreparticularly to a cartridge-containing magazine which is adapted to beattached to a firearm and which supplies cartridges automatically oneafter the other to the firing chamber of the firearm.

A magazine of this type is particularly adapted ior use in connectionwith pistols and rifles of the autoloading type. A conversion mechanismis used to change at will the usual intermittent shooting, in the courseof which the trigger must be pulled and released once for each shot,into a continuous shooting in the course of which the bullets aredischarged automatically one after' the other while the shooter holdsthe trigger in a depressed position.

The small supply of cartridges usually availahile for semiautomaticintermittently shooting firearms is insuificient if the firearm is tooperate as a machine gun in the continuous firing position of theconversion mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide a magazine containing alarge number of cartridges, say, twenty-five, thirty or fortycartridges, which may be convenientlyattached to an autoloading firearmand which will automatically supply the cartridges one after the otherto the chamber of this firearm.

Another object is the provision of a magazine for cartridges havingsimple, sturdy and reliable means providing an automatic supply ofcartridges from the magazine into the firing chamber of a firearm.

A further object is to provide a magazine for cartridges which containsa single spring and magazine having a casing containing means carrying alarge number of cartridges and supplying these cartridges one after theother into a cartridge clip oi the usual type which is. Dermanentlyattached to the casing and which may be conveniently inserted into thehandle of a pistol, or attached to an underlying surface of a rifle.

the cartridge clip.

The cartridge-containing and supplying means of the magazine include aspring-actuated drum having projections enclosing circumferentiallydisposed pockets for cartridges, and a cage-like frame structurerotatable along with the drum and constituting a support for anothercircumferential arrangement of cartridges concentrically disposed inrelation to said pockets.

Immovable guiding means situated close to the drum and the framestructure are used to shift the cartridges from the pockets of the drumto the frame structure and thence into the car tridge clip. v

A number of bodies which are similar to cartridges in form and which mayconsist of car tridge blanks or dummies, participate in the movements ofthe cartridges within the magazine and are used to push the lastcartridges contained in the magazine up to the cartridge-withdrawingopening of the cartridge clip.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in. connection with accompanying drawingsshowing, byway of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings: 7

Figure l is a side View of a pistol with the magazine attached thereto.

Figure 2 shows the magazine in side elevation with a part of the coverremoved.

Figure 3 is a section along the lines 3-3 of Figure 4 with a part of themagazine and car tr'idge clipcasing removed. 7

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig ure 3.

' Figure 5' is a detailed sectional View similar to Figure 3 and showingthe magazine in a position in which only one cartridge is situatedwithin Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the spring-adjustingmeans.

Figure '7 is a detail side View illustrating means for actuating thecartridge receiving means.

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Figur '7.

Figure 9 is a detail view showing means for stopping the movement of thecartridge supplying means.

The magazine shown in the drawings includes a substantially cylindricalcasing 15 which is firmly connected with a cartridge clip I6 by means ofscrews 11. The cartridge clip l6 has the usual upper opening (I providedwith inwardly turned edges.

In order to attach a'loaded magazine to a firearm, the cartridge clip I6may be inserted into the hollow handle I8 of a pistol I9 shown in Figure1, wherein it is held by the usual magazine catch not shown in thedrawings.

The casing of the magazine is closed by a cover 26 and carries an innerguide 16 (Figs. 3 and 4). The casing l5 and the cover 20 carry an innershaft 2| provided with a disc 22 of larger diameter and an end 23 havinga substantially fiat surface 24 (Fig. 6). The spring-adjusting means ofthe magazine include a ratchet 25 which is keyed upon the end 23 of thshaft 2| and is engaged by a pawl 26 which is pressed against the teethof the ratchet 25 by a spring 21. The pawl 26 is mounted upon a pivot 28which is carried by the casing I5. Thus, the ratchet 25 and the pawl 26are situated upon the outer surface of the casing I5 and are enclosed bya cover 29 which is pressed against the casing |5 by a knob 30 (Fig. 4).The knob 36 is held in this position by a screw 3| which is screwed intothe threaded hollow end 23 of the shaft 2 The opposite end 32 of theshaft 2| is also provided with inner screw threads and carries a screw33.

The cartridge-supporting means of the magazine include a frame 56 havingsubstantially the form of a squirrel cage and comprising a plate or disc34 which is rotatably mounted upon the portion 22 of the shaft 2|. Aring 35 is situated opposite the disc 34 and has outer circumferentialedges extending substantially parallel to the edges of the disc or plate34. The plate 34 is connected with the ring 35 by a plurality ofsymmetrically disposed rods 36, each of which has two ends which arefirmly connected with the plate 34 and the ring 35, respectively. Therods 36 are situated at such distance from each other that a cartridge31 may be conveniently placed between two-adjacent rods and may movesomewhat in the space between two rods.

Each of the rods 36 carries a lip 38 extending substantially toward thecenter of the magazine and situated in the middle of the rod. The lips38 are used to facilitate the movement of the cartridges 31.

The plate 34 is firmly connected with an inner drum 39 having the formof an annular body, the outer surfaces of which are provided withradially extending projections 4!). The projections 46 extend betweencurved pockets 4| adapted to contain cartridges 31. A cover plate 15 isfirmly connected with the drum 39 and encloses the end 32 of the shaft2|.

The hollow drum 39 contains a coiled spring 42 the. inner end of whichis attached at 43 to the shaft 2|. The outer end of the coiledspring 42is attached at 44 to the inner surface of the hollow drum 39. The spring42 is used to rotate the drum 39 and th cage-lik frame 5!] connectedtherewith.

The device used for stopping the rotation of the drum 39-and the frame56 includes a toothed pinion 45 which is mounted upon the shaft 2! andis firmly connected to the plate 34. As shown in Figures 4 and 9, thepinion 45 is situated between the cover I5 and the disc or plate 34 andmeshes with the teeth 46 of a wheel 41 which is rotatably mounted upon apin or pivot 48. The wheel 41 is provided with teeth 43 upon a part ofits circumference, while another part 49 of the wheel 41 is smooth anddevoid of teeth. The diameters of the wheel 41 and the pinion 45 are soselected that the pinion 45 can make two revolutionswhile its teeth arein engagement with the teeth 46, whereupon the teeth of the pinion 45strikes the smooth portion 49 of the wheel 41, so that further rotationof the pinion 45 and of the parts connected therewith, is prevented.

The device used for causing a stepwise turning of the drum 39 and thecage-like frame 50 connected therewith while cartridges are beinginserted into the magazine, includes a lever 5| shown in Figures 7 and 8and comprising an annular portion 52 which is swingably mounted upon theend 32 of the shaft 2| between the cover 26 and the screw 33 carried bythe shaft 2|.

The lever 5| is hingedly connected at 53 with a plate 54 carrying aprojecting pin 55 and an obliquely extending rib 16 (Fig. 2). Figure 2shows the lever 5| in its inoperative position, while the operation ofthe lever 5| is illustrated in Figure 7.

The ring 35 which constitutes a part of the cage-like frame 50, isprovided with a plurality of holes 56 (Fig. 2) and the pin 55 may beinserted into each of these holes. The number of holes 56 corresponds tothat of the rods 36, and the holes 56 are located at equal distancesfrom each other upon the ring 35.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the cover 20 of the magazine is providedwith an elongated slot 51 which is situated opposite the ring 35 andwhich is of such length that at least two of the holes 56 are accessibleat the same time through the slot 51. The pin 55 is so located upon theplate 54 that it may be inserted through the slot 51 into one of theseholes 56. The longitudinal edges of the slot 51 are curved to enable theplate 54 and the lever 5| connected therewith to move along with thering 35, when the pin 55 is situated Within a hole 56.

The immovable cartridge-shifting means of the magazine include a disc orweb 59 which encloses the end 32 of the shaft 2| and which is situatedbetween the plate 15 and the cover 20 (Figs. 2 and 4). The disc 59 isintegral with radial arms 66, the outer ends of which are firmlyconnected to the casing I5. A web 11 interconnects two of these arms 60.

The arms 66 and the web 11 carry a substantially annular support 6!which is firmly connected thereto and which extends between theprojections 46 of the drum 39 and the rods 36 of the cage-like frame 56.An end 62 of the support 6| is inclined inwardly and terminates close tothe bottom of the pockets 4! situated between the projections 40 (Figs.3 and 4). The end 62 has a central opening 63, so that the projections46 can move through this opening Without enga ing the end 62. Theopposite end 64 of the support 6| is upwardly inclined, so that itterminates substantially closely to the transverse rods 36. As shown inFigure 4, the upwardly extending end 64 has a central opening 65 for thepassage of the central projections 38 carried by the rods 36. The ends62 and 64 are joined by a web 18.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the magazine, in addition to cartridges 31,also contains a number of bodies 66 which are similar to the cartridges31 in form and general appearance. The bodies 66 ma be made of anysuitable material and may consist of blanks or dummy cartridges,although it is possible to make them of a lighter material, such asartificial resins, thereby reducing the overall weight of the magazine.

As shown in Figure 5, the purpose of the bodies 66 is to move the lastcartridge 31 to its position close to the upper opening 1| of thecartridge "7, will wind the coiled spring 42.

the frame 55 is turned, the operator inserts a "cartridge 3! into theclip l5 through the opening 1 I, the spring 42 will not unwind itselfwhen "clip I6 wherein this last cartridge may be withdrawn into thefiring chamber of the firearm.

As already stated, the coiled spring 42 may be maintained at a desiredstrength by the adjusting device shown in Figure 6 and consisting of aratchet which is keyed upon the shaft 2| and which is engaged by thepawl 26. The operator, by turning the knob 30, will turn the shaft 2|and the wheel 25 connected therewith, thereby winding the spring 42.This winding usually takes place at rare intervals, whenever the spring42 has been weakened by a continuous use of the magazine.

The magazine is loaded with cartridges by inserting them one by one intothe upper opening II of the cartridge clip It. As each cartridge isbeing inserted, the user turns the drum 39 and the frame 50 connectedtherewith one step at the time. This is accomplished by swinging thelever 5I from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown byfull lines in Figure 7, and then by swinging the plate 54 away from thelever 5| until the plate 54 i in alinement with the lever EI and the pin55 carried by the plate 54 is inserted into the right-hand hole 55visible through the slot 51 (looking in the direction of Figure 7).

Then, the user turns the lever 54 in the direction of the arrow 58 untilit is moved to the position shown by broken lines in Figure 7, while atthe same time inserting a cartridge through the upper opening H of theclip IE.

Since the ring provided with holes 56 is integral with the rods 36 andthe drum 39, this turning of the ring 35 will move one of the rods :36from its position beneath th cartridge clip :1. :IE (Fig. 5), so thatthe lowermost body 66 will drop from the lower end of the cartridge clipI6 into the magazine casing I 5 and will roll upon the projection Illand the upper end 64 of the support BI into a space between two adjacentrods 36 and will rest upon the support BI.

The turning of the frame 5 and the drum 39 in the direction of the arrow58 shown in Figure If at the time manual pressure upon the plate 54 isreleased "since the uppermost cartridge in the clip IE will be pressedagainst the bent edges of the opening I I.

After the insertion of the first cartridge, an-

other cartridge is inserted into the cartridge clip I6 through theopening II while the drum 39 and the frame are moved another stepforward. To move the frame an, the plate is swung outwardly situatedclose to the right-hand edge of the slot 51 (looking in the direction ofFig. '7). Then the lever 5| and the plate 54 are moved once again fromthe position shown in full lines in Fig. '7 to the position shown inbroken lines therein.

This shifting of the drum 39 and the frame 55 moves another rod 36 fromits position below the cartridge clip I6, so that another body 6% dropsfrom the lower end of the cartridge clip into a space between twoadjacent rods and upon the support ISI, while another cartridge 3'! isbe-- ing inserted into the upper end of the cartridge clip I6.

This operation is repeated until the magazine is loaded.

When the frame 59 is being turned to enable the last free space betweentwo rods 36 to be filled by a cartridge falling into that space from thecartridge clip, the space which was filled by a body 66 after the firstinitial turning of the frame 50, will be moved into a position betweenthe two ends 32 and 84 of the support 6 I. This innermost body will thenroll upon the inclined end 62 of the support 6| until it reaches one ofthe pockets M of the inner drum 39. Thus, this body 65 will be shiftedfrom the outer ring of cartridge supporting elements into the inner ringof cartridge-supporting elements constituted by the pockets 4|.

Since the drum 39 turns along with the frame 55, the pockets 4| will bepresented one after the other close to the inclined portion 52 of thesupport 6!, and bodies 66 will roll one after the other upon theinclined end 62 into these pockets. This is illustrated in Figure 3 ofthe drawings.

If the number of bodies 66 is smaller than that of pockets M, theremaining pockets will be filled with cartridges, which will also fillthe spaces between the rods 35.

The illustrated magazine has nine bodies 65 and eighteen pockets 4i,while eighteen cartridges may be inserted between the rods 36 upon thesupport BI. Obviously, the size of the magazine and the number ofcartridges contained therein may be varied at will, while the number ofbodies 66 depends upon the length of the cartridge clip I6.

The magazine is fully loaded when the frame 50 and the drum 39 havecompleted two full revolutions. At that time, the pockets ill of thedrum 39 are filled with bodies 66, and cartridges 31, while all thespaces between the rods 35 upon the support FBI are filled withcartridges 3'! which also extend, one on top of the other, within thecartridge clip I5.

After two complete revolutions of the plate 34 constituting a part ofthe frame 58, the pinion 45 will be brought into engagement with thesmooth portion 49 of the wheel 41 shown in Figure 9, thereb preventingany further turning of the frame 50.

The magazine may be also loaded without the use of the lever 5i byremoving the cover 2B and inserting the cartridges sidewise into thepockets 4! and the spaces between the rods 35, whereupon the spring @2is tensioned by turning the frame 50 and the drum E9, and the rest ofthe cartridges is inserted into the clip I6.

The magazine is ready for use after being loaded and it may be insertedinto the handle of a pistol I8 shown in Figure 1. The firing mechanismof the pistol withdraws the uppermost cartridge through the opening llof the cartridge clip into the firing chamber. As soon as a cartridge iswithdrawn, the spring 22 will unwind itself and will turn the drum 39and the frame 5!! in a direction opposite to that of its direction ofrotation during the loading operation. One of the rods 36 will push acartridge 37 into the cartridge clip I5 thereby raising the column ofcartridges situated within the cartridge clip until a cartridge replacesthe withdrawn uppermost cartridge. The pressure of the inturned edgesenclosing the opening II of the clip I 5 suffices to keep the cartridgesin place against the pressure of the spring 42.

While a cartridge is pushed by the rod 36 into the lower end of thecartridge clip l6, another cartridge situated within a pocket M willengage the inclined surface 62 of the support 6| and will be shiftedoutwardly until it assumes a position upon the support 6| and betweentwo rods 36 to replace that cartridge which has been shifted into thecartridge clip Hi.

It is thus apparent that during the shooting, and while cartridges arewithdrawn, one after the other, by the firing mechanism from the upperopening 7| of the clip, the cartridges situated be tween the rods 36upon the support 6| are pressed one after the other into the lower endof the clip I6 and the cartridges in the pockets 4| are moved one by oneinto the spaces between the rods 36 to replace those cartridges whichhave been inserted into the clip Hi.

When the supply of cartridges 31 in the pockets 4| is exhausted, thebodies 66 will move one after the other from the pockets 4| into thespaces between the rods 36. Thereafter, during continued firing, thebodies 66 will travel along with the frame 50 and will be inserted oneafter the other into the cartridge clip Hi.

In the position shown in Figure 5, the last cartridge 3? is situated inthe cartridge clip |6 close to the opening H and is maintained in thatposition by a column of superposed bodies 66, the lowermost of which issupported by a rod 35. A further turning of the drum 39 and the frame 50is prevented by the teeth of the pinion 45 which will strike against asmooth surface 49 of the wheel ii, so that, after the last cartridge 31has been withdrawn from the clip E6, the bodies 66 will not rise anyfurther.

Obviously, the bodies [56 may be replaced by cartridges 3?, althoughthen these cartridges will always remain in the magazine, travellingfrom the casing into the clip !6 during the unloading, and back into thecasing l5 during loading.

The above described structures are subject to further variations andmodifications without departing from the scope or intent of the pres entinvention. All of such variations and modifications are to be includedwithin the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge-containing magazine for firearms, comprising acylindrical casing, a cartridge clip communicating with said casing andhavins an opening formed therein for the insertion andWithdrawalcfcartridges,a rotary cartridge carrier within said casing, acartridge-supplying frame having the form of a squirrel cage andcomprising a plate firmly connected with said cartridge carrier, a ring,and a plurality of circularly disposed rods having ends connected withsaid plate and said ring and being spaced in relation to each other toenable the insertion of a cartridge between two adjacent rods; acartridge support situated within said casing between said cartridgecarrier and said rods, and means firmly connecting said cartridgesupport to said casing, said cartridge support being adapted to carrycartridges situated between said rods and having an end portion situatedclose to said cartridge carrier for receiving cartridges from saidcartridge carrier when the latter is rotated, and another end portionsituated close to said car tridge clip, whereby said rods move thecartridges carried by said cartridge support from said cartridge carrierand toward said clip.

2. A cartridge-containing magazine for firearms, comprising acylindrical casing, a cartridge clip having an end attached to saidcasin and communicating therewith, and another end havingcartridge-engaging edges enclosing an opening formed in the clip for theinsertion and withdrawal of the cartridges, a shaft carried by saidcasing, means connecting said shaft with the casing to prevent rotationthereof in one direction, a hollow drum rotatably mounted upon saidshaft and having projections and cartridge-receiving pockets formed insaid drum between said projections, a coiled spring situated within saiddrum and having an end connected to said shaft and another end connectedto said drum, a cartridge-supplying frame having the form of a squirrelcage and comprising a plate firmly connected with said drum, a ring, anda plurality of circularly disposed rods having ends connected with saidplate and said ring and being spaced in relation to each other to enablethe insertion of a cartridge between two adjacent rods; an immovablesupporting frame situated within said casing and firmly connectedtherewith, an annular supporting element having an edge firmly connectedto said supporting frame and substantially enclosing said drum, saidsupporting element extending between the plate and the ring of thecartridge-supplying frame and having an inwardly bent end portionsituated close to said drum for receiving cartridges from said drum whenthe latter is rotated by said spring, and an outwardly bent end portionsituated close to said cartridge clip, whereby said rods move thecartridges carried by said supporting element toward said clip when thedriun is rotated along with the cartridge-supplying frame by saidspring.

3. A cartridge-containing magazine for firearms, comprising a casing, acartridge clip communicating with said casing and havingcartridge-engaging edges enclosing an opening formed in the clip for theinsertion and withdrawal of the cartridges, a rotary cartridge carrierwithin said casing, a coiled spring having one end connected with saidcartridge carrier, means connecting the other end of said spring withsaid casing, a cartridge-supplying frame rotatable along with saidcarrier, a pinion rotatable along with said cartridge-supplying frame, awheel having teeth formed upon a part of the periphery of the wheel andmeshing with said pinion, the other part of the periphery of said wheelbeing smooth to limit the rotation of said pinion and of the frame andthe carrier connected therewith, and a cartridge support firmlyconnected with said casing and having means for receiving cartridgesfrom said cartridge carrier when the latter is moved, said cartridgesupplying frame having means for engaging cartridges carried by saidcartridge support and moving them toward said clip.

4. A cartridge-containing magazine for firearms, comprising acylindrical casing, a cartridge clip communicating with said casing andhaving cartridge-engaging edges enclosing an opening formed in the clipfor the insertion and withdrawal of the cartridges, a rotary cartridgecarrier within said casing, a coiled spring having one end connectedwith said cartridge carrier, means connecting the other end of saidspring with said casing, whereby said spring is wound when saidcartridge carrier is rotated in one direction, a cartridge-supplyingframe rotatable along with said carrier and comprising an annular memberand cartridge-engaging elements carried by said annular member, saidannular member having a plurality of circularly arranged holes formedtherein and disposed at a substantially uniform distance from eachother, said casing having a slot formed therein and enclosing at leasttwo of said holes, a lever swingably mounted upon the outside of saidcasing, means connected with said lever and comprising a pin adapted tobe inserted into one of said holes and movable within said slot whensaid lever is swung to turn said frame and said carrier, and a cartridgesupport firmly connected with said casing and having means for receivingcartridges from said cartridge carrier when the latter is turned, saidcartridge support being adapted to carry the cartridges engaged by saidcartridgeengaging elements.

5. A cartridge-containing magazine for firearms, comprising acylindrical casing, a cartridge clip communicating with said casing andhaving cartridge-engaging edges enclosing an opening formed in the clipfor the insertion and withdrawal of the cartridges, a shaft carried bysaid casing, means connecting said shaft with the casing to preventrotation thereof in one direction, a hollow drum rotatably mounted uponsaid shaft and having cartridge-receiving pockets formed on theperiphery thereof, a coiled spring situated within said drum and havingan end connected to said shaft and another end connected to said drum,whereby said spring is wound when said cartridge carrier is rotated inone direction, a cartridge-supplying frame comprising a plate firmlyconnected with said drum, a ring, and a plurality of circularly disposedrods having ends connected with said plate and said ring and beingspaced in relation to each other to enable the insertion of a cartridgebetween the adjacent rods; said ring having a plurality of circularlyarranged holes formed therein and disposed at a substantially uniformdistance from each other, said casing having a slot formed therein andenclosing at least two of said holes, a lever swingably mounted uponsaid shaft and situated outside of said casing, a plate hingedlyconnected with said lever, a pin carried by the last-mentioned plate andadapted to be inserted into one of said holes, said pin being movablewithin said slot when said lever is swung along with the last-rnentionedplate to turn said frame and said drum and thereby wind said spring, anda cartridge support firmly connected with said casing and having meansfor receiving cartridges from the pockets of said drum when the latteris turned, said cartridge support being adapted to carry the cartridgesengaged by said rods.

JOHN R. WHIITAKER.

